Monday Manna
Every Monday Pastor Loren starts the week with a brief devotion entitled Monday Manna. You can read them here or email us to be on our mailing list!
Joy & Love
Journey to the hamlet
Over fields and hills, afraid
Yonder the promise lay.
Long robes of embroidered silk
On camels backs they were carried.
Venturing abroad with gifts so rich,
Eastern magi to enthrone a King.
The Dressing
Food tells a story. How can it not, it is central to our lives. So many of the narratives of Jesus, particularly in the gospel of Luke center around meals. My Grandma Becky was a one spunky lady. She was petite like me. She worked outside the home and always had a garden when I was a kid. She raised my dad and my aunt to adulthood without them killing each other, and she was married to my Papa Tate for over 50 years. Let me tell you, she needed to be spunky. The older I get the more I realize how much Thanksgiving was her holiday. She loved to feed her kids. She would cook forever and dirty every dish in her kitchen doing it. Always delicious. My favorite dish that she always made was fried dressing to go with the turkey. I’ve never seen “dressing” or “stuffing” made this way outside of my family. My cousin Jason and I fight over who will take home the leftovers. So central is it to Thanksgiving dinner in the Tate family that with Grandma Becky gone, Jason, and I make it for our in-laws’ meals. Sometimes we get my mom to make it for Christmas if we do not have it the month before. And on rare occasions Michael will make it just for me. Since my family gathers for Thanksgiving the Saturday after the holiday to accommodate both sides of the family, we don’t always have the traditional meal. This began long ago when for a time my family had breakfast instead of lunch on Thursday. The first time we tried this change in tradition, I was a young teen and my grandmother made turkey and dressing anyway! I loved her for it. So, Thursday night, I made dressing and gravy for dinner. As I fried the patties, I placed them on one of my grandmother’s everyday plates she always used with strawberries on it. I was at the stove when Kemper came through and asked why I was smiling. The counters were a mess, I’d used twice as many dishes as I had planned, and I realized that was just about right. I told him I was communing with my grandma, and it made me happy. I texted my cousin and told him I was making our favorite dish and he said he had done the same. Good, that meant I didn’t have to save any for him! Boy, I can’t wait until the heavenly banquet because I bet she’ll be dishing up dressing for the head of the table, apron on and spatula in hand.
Give Thanks
1 Chronicles 16:34
O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
for his steadfast love endures for ever.
Tribe
Heritage
Ancestry
Neighbors
Kinfolk
Saints
LTM 11/20/23
The Collector
I’m raising a little collector.
Mostly of things I don’t want to collect.
Dirty stones and broken sticks.
Ratty leaves and acorns best left to the squirrels.
No different than our Lord it seems.
Stockpiling followers from the streets.
Tax collectors and lawless sinners.
Outcasts best left to the margins.
LTM 11/12/23
Maple
I love her,
in her golden light,
stretched toward the sunrise.
She reminds me to lean hard
to the light.
Her trunk a crooked spine
traces the lines of my mother’s back.
She bends but won’t break.
She braces for the wind.
Loss of gnarled branches
has not hindered her growth.
Her roots embedded,
calling deep to deep.
LTM 10/30/23
Proverbs 3: 13-18
13 Happy are those who find wisdom,
and those who get understanding,
14 for her income is better than silver,
and her revenue better than gold.
15 She is more precious than jewels,
and nothing you desire can compare with her.
16 Long life is in her right hand;
in her left hand are riches and honor.
17 Her ways are ways of pleasantness,
and all her paths are peace.
18 She is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her;
those who hold her fast are called happy.
True Community
I am in a special position on Sundays. I bear witness to a lot of faithfulness and personal interactions that not everyone can see. Yesterday was a full day at New Providence and an excellent trailer for what the full feature film looks like here in our little church.
Kathy was telling Kemper stories of her cat before Sunday School.
During our study, we talked about wealth and what we do with it around the table.
Covered dishes filled with sides and desserts were carted into the fellowship hall.
Patsy and Marylynn dropped Halloween candy in the study.
I won’t eat it all. I promise.
We will hand it out from Bruce’s yard next Saturday.
We’ve promised not to TP his house while he’s away.
Barry solved the problem of the sanctuary thermostat with AA batteries.
Then my mic died before the end of worship.
The bells echoed through the hallway as they practiced for the prelude.
It was confessed that it is a very stressful piece, but it was beautiful.
Mary-Grace proudly ran up the stairs to show me her latest fingernail polish color.
Jerry shared good news about his and Brenda’s health.
Daisy did a spin in her fluffy pink skirt.
Walter still swears he isn’t worth two cents.
Jeanne and Thad came in and were instantly swarmed with well-wishers.
Danielle reminded everyone of Seedlings Storytime next month. Please help.
Dear friends of Kenny and Pam worshipped with us. Kenny’s sister Theresa as well.
Wally was back after heart surgery, chipper as ever.
Helen celebrated her 90th birthday over the weekend.
Ken noted Jordan’s presence in worship from Richmond.
Ken & Barry took the lead in the anthem. Well done!
Jack & Henry came with their grandparents.
Brooklyn, Layla and Ms. Ginny had coordinating outfits.
We read about playground safety and the kids loved finding their names in the book.
Bruce waited for the BBQ delivery and snuck in for the sermon.
I could hear the kids upstairs like elephants dancing.
A second table was added for all the desserts at lunch.
Addison is playing soccer and loves sugar as much as me.
Mary-Grace held the door open for Mrs. Helen, Bob and Cathy to come in.
Mike made it from his bowling tournament!
The kids scarfed down their food then made Generosity Jars and actually played peacefully.
Layla clung to my leg and decorated my hands with stickers.
Bowling was a topic of conversation.
As were the wild animals of Rockbridge County.
Hogback Mountain BBQ was heaped onto plates.
And the desserts. So many desserts.
I asked Ken & Peter to bring out some folding chairs to the playground for our seniors.
Not a single one of them sat down for the ceremony! Truly the greatest generation.
Daisy brought me a cup of water because I “have to speak a lot.”
Pam talked eloquently about how much the church means to her family, recalling her wedding.
Isabelle took marvelous photos of our celebration.
Ken gave folks instructions on the confetti poppers.
I really didn’t think they would last until the end.
Jeanne ceremoniously cut the ribbon like a champ with her winning grin.
A flurry of work to clean up the kitchen by both members and friends.
Tears of grief. Tears of joy. We remembered we can have both.
Kids ran all over the playground and tennis court laughing.
Colored confetti skipping by blue skies in the wind.
The Aud
For my big birthday we are going to spend the weekend in my favorite place in the world, Black Mountain & Montreat, NC. I can hardly wait. I’ve been blessed to visit some amazing places in my life, but more than the Colosseum, The Eiffel Tower, Stonehenge, and Westminster Abbey combined; Montreat is where I feel awe every time and my soul most at home. Below is a poem I wrote originally in 2012 about my first memory of Montreat Youth Conference.
The Aud
1,000 people gathered together
in a large worship space
built from local mountain stone.
Wooden beams soared overhead
and lanterns dangled from the rafters.
The pews, we'd been told
were older than our grandmothers
and we should treat them with the same respect.
Large windows were open to let in the breeze
from the cooling summer air.
Electricity, I felt waves of it,
as if we touched our neighbors to the left and right of us
we would be shocked with a jolt of the Spirit.
A hush fell over the congregation,
bursting with silent expectation.
Then I heard it,
a strong beat
on a solitary
djembe drum.
As the rhythm grew,
stretching out like a r i b b o n u n f u r l e d
voices began to chant from various corners of the auditorium,
they moved about us,
rising up from our midst and
joined together a dozen in number on the stage.
"Will you listen?" one side of the room would chant
"Come follow me" the other side would respond.
They carried the beat in their feet,
they matched the intensity of the rhythm with their voices,
"I. Will. Make. You. Fish. For. People!"
Final beat, actors froze, lights went out.
I was enthralled.
I felt my heart pounding, blood coursed through my veins,
and the Spirit left me with goosebumps as she blew through the room.
(I was fourteen years old when I attended my first conference at Montreat. I had yet to be baptized but I knew in that moment that I would be. I had seen the Holy Spirit move and I was without a doubt, absolutely certain that this type of worship, this kind of faithful expression was exactly what I needed to do, where I needed to be.)
Opal
October sunrise
Paints gold on the horizon.
Autumn crisp air rattles
Leaves that transform, twirl, tumble.
"So, if you faithfully obey the commands I am giving you today—to love the Lord your God and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul— then I will send rain on your land in its season, both autumn and spring rains, so that you may gather in your grain, new wine and olive oil. I will provide grass in the fields for your cattle, and you will eat and be satisfied."- Deuteronomy 11:13-15
Flowering
Katie loved flowers. I did not anticipate this revelation when I was twenty. Nor did I expect Katherine to hike the AT, Corinne to follow the Weather Channel, Meagan to work out at 5AM, or Jennifer to marry a “car guy”. These things just were not in the cards. Nor did I ever anticipate that we, or our spouses, would take an interest in things like birdwatching out the kitchen window. Nevertheless, here we are.
Katie loved flowers. And she was great at taking care of her gardens. I am envious as I have never, and probably will never, have a green thumb. I want all the beauty of blossoms and none of the work. Is that too much to ask? Why can’t beautiful blooming flowers grow as easily as weeds? In fact, as soon as I get though weeding the front flower beds from one end to the other, weeds are growing right back where I began.
The very first Hanson song that launched them (my favorite band) to fame in 1997, was Mmmbop. The tune is as light and catchy as one can imagine a summer pop song to be. But the lyrics are quite serious:
You have so many relationships in this life
Only one or two will last
You go through all the pain and strife
Then you turn your back and they're gone so fast
Oh, so hold on the ones who really care
In the end they'll be the only ones there
And when you get old and start losing your hair
Can you tell me who will still care?
Plant a seed, plant a flower, plant a rose
You can plant any one of those
Keep planting to find out which one grows
It's a secret no one knows
So, I guess I’ll keep plugging away at these weeds. And when I do, I’ll think of Katie and how she liked feeling the soil under her nails. And how she made her little corner of the world beautiful. Maybe next spring I’ll plant a seed and see how it grows. Then maybe I’ll be the one at forty doing things no one ever expected.
Collector of Quotes
I’ve always been a collector of quotes. When I was young I would fill journals with poetry and on the inside covers of the books I would always record quotes and lyrics that inspired me. It’s even easier now with modern technology to save quotes—I have a whole Pinterest board full of ones that have touched me. If you come in my office you’ll see various scriptures and quotes on my walls. Below are a few that I’ve been mulling over recently. Do you keep snippets of words somewhere?
“I will kindle my fire this morning in the presence of the holy angels of heaven…
Without malice, without jealousy, without envy
Without fear, without terror of anyone under the sun,
But the Holy Son of God to shield me.
God, kindle Thou in my heart within
A flame of love to my neighbor.”
--Alexander Carmichael
“Simply put, prayer is a way of life. It is an attitude of God—consciousness and God-surrender that we carry all the time. Prayer is how we communicate with our God and it is an opportunity for us to bring our gratitude, needs, and concerns before Him.”-Christine Caine
“God, sing over me the truth of how You see me. You made me in love, for love and—somehow—it is enough.” –Kate Bowler & Jessica Richie
Tell Me Again
Tell me again
how death lost its sting.
Remind me of how
you made everything.
Show me the glow
of your evermore.
Illumine the rooms
You go for me, before.
Lend me your staff
That I might lean.
Spare me the rod,
it’s comfort I need.
When does the lion
lie down with the lamb?
When in the hell
are you coming again?
Jericho’s walls are crumbling down.
Hearts are crumbling,
do you hear the sound?
It whispers, it screams:
“Why am I my brother’s keeper?
Try as I might, I just couldn’t keep her.”
So tell me again
how death lost its sting.
Remind me of how
you made everything.
LTM 8/25/23
SHE
There’s nothing quite like the balance of holding grief and faith in tandem. I can believe in the sure and certain hope of our resurrection with Christ in God’s kingdom, while weeping in the pain of loss on earth. My heart overflows to bursting when I think of the broken hearts of those of us left behind, all the while giving thanks that my person will no longer know pain. There is no way out, but through. And so we must soldier on.
“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.” Matthew 5:4
She was ocean. She could roar like thunder or meet you serene. She had breadth and depth uncharted. But she’d greet you with frothy mirth and make you feel at home. A force. She moved with the moon. She’d fill you up as long as she could, and surround you, to bolster you on a wave of her strength, and guide you back to shore. Whenever she receded, she left you remembrances, glimmering, like shells on the shore—eyes dancing blue green sunshine on the surface of the sea.
For Katie. 10/28/83-8/19/23
Energy of the sea
Energy of the Sea
Darkest blue to lightest teal
white sand stretched beneath.
And a little fish darting to and fro
Shockingly just beneath my torso--
that’s the energy of the sea.
Shriveled toes on kicking feet,
face submerged in the sun’s down beat.
Splashing out of the expanse beaming,
freckles popping, ocean rivulets streaming--
that’s the energy of the sea.
Hands outstretched with treasures found,
tiny perfect shells abound.
From inside one a hermit crab breaches,
miniscule claws leave us speechless--
that’s the energy of the sea.
LTM 8/13/23
Psalm 104:24-25
24 O Lord, how manifold are your works!
In wisdom you have made them all;
the earth is full of your creatures.
25 Yonder is the sea, great and wide,
creeping things innumerable are there,
living things both small and great.
Sweet Massanetta Charm
Hanging basket
potted soil,
beneath dirty nails
shows gentle toil.
Geraniums bright purple,
primrose, kaleidoscope red.
Is it breeze or drought
that would droop their heads?
Dangling strands
of minty green,
beneath their movement
peace beckons me.
That I might sit
and stay awhile.
Have a quiet rock
on a porch that smiles.
LTM 7/26/23
“But Shepherd, I Want”
Psalm 23
The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures;
he leads me beside still waters;
he restores my soul.
He leads me in right paths
for his name’s sake.
Even though I walk through the darkest valley,
I fear no evil;
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff—
they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord
my whole life long.
Sermon -“But shepherd, I Want ” Rev. Loren Tate Mitchell
These passages have been rolling around in my head all week long. Psalm 23 a passage often referred to in our darkest times of illness or grief, has been a living litany in my mind. I don’t know why, except to say—I don’t know why. I don’t know why God takes from among the healthy, living, breathing witnesses who transform our lives by their presence—and then asks why we are looking for them among the dead. I don’t know why the shadow of death passes over the homes of the wicked, the faithless, the inhumane, and crashes into our kitchens when we’ve painted the blood of the lamb over our doorposts. I don’t know why cancer exists. I don’t know if the pearly gate and the golden streets of heaven are for real, or why God didn’t answer our faithful pleas and fervent cries. I’m sorry if you thought you were paying me to know, but I don’t.
Nothing about the way the creator has meticulously designed the world makes sense. And I don’t think it’s supposed to. I don’t think God means for us to know all that God knows. I don’t think God wants us to seek with reason or logic, but rather faith. We weren’t supposed to eat of the tree of knowledge—we were warned. And I think maybe it is because we cannot know with the certainty of the Creator. We were not born as the Word. The word was with God, and the word was God—and all came into being through him. But we are not Him. We are not the Christ. Hallelujah!
The problem is that we do not want a shepherd. We do not want to be made to lie down in green pastures or be led beside still waters. We want our own paths, to hell with the right ones… we want to blaze a trail for our own name’s sake! We do not want to sit at a table with those people. We don’t have time to sit down at a meal anyway. Anointing our heads with oil sounds messy, we don’t want goodness and mercy to follow us, we want it to be us and the house of the Lord better have single rooms with a view!-- The psalm says, “I shall not want” but we do want, thank you very much! We want tangible things to show for our efforts. We want life to be simple. We want our people to be happy. We want life to be fair (for us) and we want to live forever in a bubble of our own making. And we want God to give us whatever we ask for, whenever we ask for it. If it were that easy though, we could just pack up and go home. No need for prayers or pews.
Our culture breeds dissatisfaction within us and contempt for that which is out of reach or incomprehensible. We struggle to accept that God’s gifts for us are true—life, community, creation, the capacity for food, shelter, and cherishing one another.
What Psalm 23 is telling us is that God provides for the needs of the nation…not what they desire, but what they need. God provides guidance, discipline, presence, and protection. And guess what? The good news for us is that we do not need to have all the answers in order for God’s providence to be with us. No, we are justified by the gift of God’s grace, and through the gift of God’s grace. God is faithful when we are not. So faithful that the shepherd became flesh and laid down his life for the sheep.
Psalm 23 is personal in a way that other psalms are not. It says, “the Lord is my shepherd.” The psalm is set in the present tense, and it is personal. Rev. William Brosend writes, “The Lord is my shepherd, who leads and restores; I fear no evil; your rod and staff comfort; you prepare and anoint. Only verse 6 is translated with a future tense, ‘shall follow, shall dwell.’ So why, if I say, Psalm 23, do you ask, ‘ who died?’ That makes about as much sense as treating 1 Corinthians 13 as if Paul wrote it for a wedding liturgy.” He goes on to say, “Psalm 23 is the repetition of God’s relation to his people, particularly in how he relates to his people in the living of one individual person.”[1]
Here’s the crux of the text. “In death’s shadow and darkness, Christ accompanies us.” The how and why do not matter so much. “Into the hell of God forsakenness, Christ descended, so that even when we make our beds in hell, we will not be without him. As the messenger of the empty tomb announced, “He is going ahead of you” not only to prepare a dwelling place for us at the end of life, but also to prepare a table in the midst of life with all its joys and sorrows, its hopes and fears. Christ has promised to remain with us as the good shepherd even to the end of time, so that in life and in death we may be confident that we do not belong to the powers of evil, sin and death, but to him of whom we can say with confidence and trust, ‘the Lord is my shepherd.’”[2]
The passage from Revelation today backs this up. There is tension between those who worship the Lamb and the powers that be in the human empires. Pain and suffering are a part of any Christian life. We see this in Rev. 7:14—the ones who are robed in white are the ones who have come out of the great ordeal, they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the lamb. They experienced hardship but also can rest in the promise, they will not know hunger or thirst, the sun will not scorch them, the shepherd will guide them to springs of the water of life and God will wipe away their tears. Can you imagine how wonderful it must be? Can you imagine our loved ones seeing what John saw—all tribes, all languages, all creatures standing before the throne of God, worshiping. It is because they have come through the trials that they worship God--day and night!
Dana Ferguson relates, “Listening to the promise of the text, we learn a lot about letting go—of the definitions of victory enforced by our culture, of our great need to control all the circumstances of our lives, including their ultimate outcome. Every person in this passage has come through a great ordeal. Every robe needs washing. Their suffering has prepared them for worship and for victory—but by God’s definition, not their own.” She goes on to say, “whatever ordeals we are facing—some of our preparations may not be what we want. Accepting the food that God offers us, even when it does not taste as good as we had hoped. Other days the food will be delicious, as we study, pray, and worship together, putting on ‘spiritual weight’ for whatever lies ahead. Ordeals are not all God has in store for us. There is also joy, as we share in the beloved lives of those around us and celebrate the good things of life. All of these are ways that we feed ourselves, and God feeds us as we live in between times.”[3]
So, I don’t know much. But I’m learning to trust. And by God, that’s enough. Amen.
[1] William Brosend, Feasting On The Word Year C, Vol 2 (Louisville: WJK Press, 2009) p 435
[2] John B. Rogers, Feasting On The Word Year C, Vol 2 (Louisville: WJK Press, 2009) p 436
[3] Dana Ferguson Feasting On The Word Year C, Vol 2 (Louisville: WJK Press, 2009) p 442
Jesus The Bright Morning Star
Scripture:2 Peter 1:12-19 (NRSV)
Therefore, I intend to keep on reminding you of these things, though you know them already and are established in the truth that has come to you. I think it right, as long as I am in this body, to refresh your memory, since I know that my death will come soon, as indeed our Lord Jesus Christ has made clear to me. And I will make every effort so that after my departure you may be able at any time to recall these things. For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we had been eyewitnesses of his majesty. For he received honor and glory from God the Father when that voice was conveyed to him by the Majestic Glory, saying, ‘This is my Son, my Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.’ We ourselves heard this voice come from heaven, while we were with him on the holy mountain. So, we have the prophetic message more fully confirmed. You will do well to be attentive to this as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.
Interesting Facts:
The second letter of Peter is thought to have been written after Peter’s death with the writer attributing the words to Peter, which was widely accepted at that time when creating ‘testaments’ of great figures. Considered written between 80 -90 C.E.
Peter is defending his honor, being accused by his opponents that he was lying about the future coming of Christ.
Verses 16-18 refer to Jesus’ Transfiguration before Peter, James, and John and was met by Moses and Elijah. (Matt 17:1-8)
The morning star is Christ at his coming in glory.
Ponder:
Have there been times when you have had to defend your faith? What was that like for you?
Where else does God say to Jesus, “You are my beloved in whom I am well pleased?” Does this remind you perhaps of the conversation with Nicodemus? How so?
There is also reference to a lamp shining in a dark place. How can we be this lamp until the morning star rises in our hearts?
If we follow the thread through the week from Abraham to Jesus’ Birth, Jesus’ ministry, and the message of his disciples, what stands out to you? What links these stories together and what themes do you find in them?
Jesus Meets Nicodemus
Scr John 3:1-21 (NRSV): Now there was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews. He came to Jesus by night and said to him, ‘Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God; for no one can do these signs that you do apart from the presence of God.’ Jesus answered him, ‘Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above.’ Nicodemus said to him, ‘How can anyone be born after having grown old? Can one enter a second time into the mother’s womb and be born?’ Jesus answered, ‘Very truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit. What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not be astonished that I said to you, “You must be born from above.” The wind blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.’ Nicodemus said to him, ‘How can these things be?’ Jesus answered him, ‘Are you a teacher of Israel, and yet you do not understand these things? ‘Very truly, I tell you, we speak of what we know and testify to what we have seen; yet you do not receive our testimony. If I have told you about earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you about heavenly things? No one has ascended into heaven except the one who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life. ‘For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. ‘Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Those who believe in him are not condemned; but those who do not believe are condemned already, because they have not believed in the name of the only Son of God. And this is the judgement, that the light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil. For all who do evil hate the light and do not come to the light, so that their deeds may not be exposed. But those who do what is true come to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that their deeds have been done in God.’
Interesting Facts:
Tradition holds writer is John son of Zebedee (the beloved disciple) 80-90 C.E.
Nicodemus only in John. Jn 19:39 helps Joseph of Arimathea prepare JC body for burial.
The gospel of John makes many references to night/day and dark/light.
The Greek word translated as “from above” also means “anew”
Ponder:
Nicodemus makes a confession, what is it? What is he missing?
What do you think it means to be born of water and Spirit?
Why does Nic visit Jesus in the dark of night? Do you treat your faith the same, tucked away and hidden? What can we learn from this story about our faith?